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Cool Home: Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

Rudy and Tracy Rojas are overjoyed to live in their new community of Estrella, in Goodyear.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

Rudy and Tracy Rojas recently moved into the master-planned community of Estrella, in Goodyear. They’re still settling into their new home, but already love it.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

The Rojas family moved in very recently and plans several projects, such as putting in a courtyard fountain.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

The courtyard blends indoor and outdoor living.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

The open floor plan features a spacious living room, access to the kitchen and dining area as well as double doors that open to the backyard.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

The spacious spare bedroom has its own lounge area.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Estrella community offers a peaceful sanctuary for new empty-nesters

“When I walk in, I go over to the couch, put my feet up and I think, ‘Man, this is a beautiful home,’ ” says Rudy Rojas of the Estrella Mountain Ranch home he shares with wife Tracy and Tracy's mother.
Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic

Rudy and Tracy Rojas used to talk on the phone for hours as teens about how they wanted to take the good from their childhoods and improve on it, and leave the hardships behind.

Rudy had grown up in the projects and Tracy struggled as well. When these two Trevor Browne High School sweethearts got married and had their son, they strived to show him that dreams can come true.

The 3,000-square-foot home they moved into a few months ago is beyond what they thought possible.

Rudy, who works at a Fry’s warehouse, and Tracy, a church administrator, worked hard since their working-class childhoods in the West Valley to buy their dream home. They’re still on the west side, but with very different views.

'A little mountain oasis'

The mountains offer serenity and quietude.(Photo: Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic)

Their Estrella Mountain Ranch community is near the Estrella Mountains and is surrounded by amenities such as man-made lakes, two stunning clubhouses and resort-style pools.

“Once you make the drive up into the mountain area, you’re nestled in between beautiful views and it feels hidden like a little mountain oasis,” Tracy said. “Many people don’t know it’s here.”

Estrella is a 20,000-acre planned community in the city of Goodyear, with 5,000 homes. Estrella features 500 acres of parks and open space, including 72 acres of boating and fishing lakes. The community also has a golf course and clubhouses, hiking trails, basketball, volleyball, pickleball and tennis courts.

The Rojas home has three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, a great room and a den. It also includes a courtyard in the front. Since they’ve only lived there for a few months, there is still a lot of work the couple want to do, such as putting a fountain in the courtyard, settling into the house more, landscaping the backyard and installing an outdoor kitchen.

'This was the house for us'

“When I walk in, I go over to the couch, put my feet up and I think, ‘Man, this is a beautiful home,’ ” Rudy said. “Every time I walk in I feel blessed.”

Tracy is content too, despite the long commute she now has.

“When I walk in, I go over to the couch, put my feet up and I think, ‘Man, this is a beautiful home,’ ” says Rudy Rojas of the Estrella Mountain Ranch home he shares with wife Tracy and Tracy's mother.(Photo: Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic)

“I’m happy to drive home,” she said. “It starts at the base of the mountain when you drive up that road. It’s peaceful. It’s our sanctuary. Our place that we rest. When we walked into this house, my husband knew it was the one. He was going to make everything in his power to make this happen, because he knew this was the house for us.”

Rudy and Tracy live with Tracy’s mother and were attracted to the community partly because Tracy’s mom wants access to lots of activities when she retires, such as hiking and club events. The three housemates say the layout affords plenty of privacy, and that the great room is a perfect space for when they all want to be together.

Still, leaving their last home was difficult. The Rojas couple had lived at that southwest Phoenix house for 17 years and raised their only child there. He left for his freshman year at Arizona State University about the same time his parents made their own big move.

“We worked hard for everything we had, and I wanted him to see that there is no limit for what you can do,” Rudy said. “You always want the next generation to do better than what you could do. When we pass on I want to leave him with an inheritance and this house. I say to him that eventually this will be yours — we’re leaving it for you and your kids.”

“Every time I walk in I feel blessed.”

Rudy Rojas

Rudy’s favorite parts of the home are the kitchen and bathroom, particularly having a gas range instead of electric, and upgraded countertops. He also likes that the master bath tub is separate from the shower.

Tracy’s favorite part of her new home is how friendly her community members are, and she also likes the surroundings.

“I love the serenity out here,” she said. “The quiet stillness. The stars are brighter. You don’t hear anything like you do in the city. I also love our courtyard and the outdoors hiking. The atmosphere.”

New home, new possibilities

As avid smoothie and coffee enthusiasts, Rudy and Tracy have a dedicated beverage bar area to create their favorite drinks.(Photo: Michelle Beaver/Special for The Republic)

Tracy said she’s proud of her husband for motivating her to move and try something new.

“This home is a whole other level of living for all of us,” Tracy said. “It’s easy for adults to stop dreaming for themselves, but we just turned 40 and we still have a good portion of our lives to do whatever. It was hard to be empty-nesters, but we made our own adventure and were able to say to our son, ‘We’re going to be just fine without you; go ahead and do your thing.’”

Tracy said she felt empty inside when her son first moved out, but that building a new life helped a lot.

“My husband realized that instead of mourning what we were leaving and wouldn’t have, he created what we could have. We feel like young teenagers again. He created an adventure and new possibilities. Instead of being in the home were I raised my son and saying, “Oh do you remember this,” he was completely successful in helping me transition to something new. And now my son sees that mom and dad had dreams of their own.”

Rudy and Tracy live that dream every day when they drive up the mountain and walk into their home.